Career Summary

Biography

I co-lead and manage research programs at the Ravensworth State Forest Vegetation Complex Model Site that is listed on the Global Restoration Network of the Society for Ecosystem Restoration, International. This site has been developed over a 16-year period and led to the peer reviewed publication, that I coauthored, ‘Establishing Native Vegetation: Principles and Interim Guidelines for Spoil Placement Areas and Restoration Lands’ which Xstrata Coal NSW personnel use as scientifically based guidelines for restoration and rehabilitation. Another program that I manage and contribute to at the site is the Biodiversity Offsets Research Program that fulfills part of the Mount Owen mine consent conditions, where a number of experiments test site preparation and restoration methods linked to habitat provision for native flora and fauna. This followed on from the Australian Coal Association Research Program project “Topsoil substitutes and sustainability of reconstructed native forest in the Hunter Valley” where I was Project Manager and my PhD thesis “Rebuilding biodiversity and microbial associations in native forest rehabilitation following open-cut coal mining” at The University of Newcastle, 2006. I have also co-led experimental trials conducted with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage in reconstructing the Endangered Ecological Communities Kurri Sands Swamp Woodland and Lower Hunter Spotted Gum Ironbark Forest on previously cleared land. My main interests are in developing effective techniques for the restoration and reconstruction of native vegetation, including Endangered Ecological Communities, with the ultimate aim of being able to develop recovery plans for species and ecosystems. Key foci of my research are in the reconstruction of functional soil, plant nutrition and plant health. I contribute to the University by co-supervising PhD candidates, Honours students and providing guest lectures in undergraduate courses. My experience has developed from a strong interest in high quality experimental design, methods of experimental implementation, and analysis to produce scientifically valid and meaningful results for field and laboratory experiments.

Research ExpertiseResearch of nutritional requirements, microbial associations and best techniques for recreating native forest ecosystems on disturbed land.

Teaching ExpertiseMy teaching has been in undergraduate laboratory sessions or tutorials, mainly on plant physiology and experimental sampling and data analysis.

Qualifications

PhD, University of Newcastle

Bachelor of Science, University of Newcastle

Bachelor of Science (Honours), University of Newcastle

Keywords

Cell and Molecular Biology

Environmental Sampling and Data Analysis

Flora of Australia

Open-cut coal mine rehabilitation

Plant Physiology

Fields of Research

Code

Description

Percentage

050207

Environmental Rehabilitation (excl. Bioremediation)

80

050303

Soil Biology

10

060208

Terrestrial Ecology

10

Professional Experience

UON Appointment

Title

Organisation / Department

Research Academic

University of NewcastleSchool of Environmental and Life SciencesAustralia

Cole MA, Nussbaumer YM, Castor C, 'Integrating Vegetation Community Construction at the Rehabilitation Sites of Mount Owen Open-Cut Coal Mine with Vegetation Community Restoration in the Large Remnant of Ravensworth State Forest and the New Forest: Towards the Development of a Model Research Site in the Upper Hunter', University of Newcastle, Physiological Ecology Unit, Plant Science Group, 65 (2004) [R1]

Research Supervision

Current Supervision

Commenced

Research Title / Program / Supervisor Type

2010

Benefits of Plants, Compost and Inoculation with Plant-Associated Microbes for the Development of a Mine Spoil AnthroposolBiological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Information TechnologyCo-Supervisor